Patna: Around 300 children at Upkramit Madhya Vidyalaya in Belchi block of Barh subdivision, Patna, are studying in dire conditions with only two rooms available for classes up to standard 8. One of the rooms in the old building is used for cooking mid-day meals, leaving even less space for learning.
The students have no mats or carpets to sit on during meals, forcing them to eat on the bare ground under the open sky and in turns, as the small space cannot accommodate them all together. After their meals, children wash their own plates due to lack of supporting staff.
The school also does not have a playground. Children are often seen playing on the roadside, on private land nearby, or in waterlogged areas after rainfall. Recently, many were spotted playing in stagnant water that had accumulated in front of the school following light monsoon showers.
The headteacher declined to share details on student enrolment or the number of teachers in the school. However, Block Development Officer Jaikundal Prasad confirmed that a new room is under construction but will not be handed over to the school until work is fully complete. In the meantime, some classes are being conducted in the verandah due to lack of space.
